Martinsburg gazette. (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1886-1887, 1887-01-21
Staying THE BULL.
How a Brutal ssport's is
Conducted in Peru.
Torturing the Animal to Death for the
Amusement Of the Spectators.


.prickers', are all spaniards by birth,
and more bloodthirsty, villainons crew
are seldom seen assembled. Each man
is bedecked in the faded velvet jacket,
knee-breeches and white socks, which
form part Of the attire Of the profess. onal
bull fighter. The bulls, which it must
in justice be admitted, says writer in
the Brooklyn Magazine, are fine. we'll
fed, Withholding creatures, are admit
ted singly into the area at signal given
BY blowing trumpet, and as the ami
mai is led forward, the fun begins A
mounted ''picadore'' approaching en-.
deavors to fix in the>neck Of the beast
small steel dart, one end or which is
sharply pointed and washed
with brim tone, a. strip Of
colcred ribbon ibeing attached
to the other. The usual proceedings are
as follows: II the bull turns and charges
the rider, causes his horse to whirl round
and approach the quarry on his other
side, when frequently the dart becomes
fixed in the spot aimed at. The sharp
pain resulting from the prick and the
birthstone combined infuriatcs the ami
NAL and he rushes blindly forward,
straight ahead, as if making for the peo-
pie sitting on the lower tiers of seats,
which occasionally cncircle the amphi-
theatre. But before many PAGES are
made q red flag is waved before his eyes
BY ono Of the foot 'picadores," which
causes him to turn and face his new as
sailant. Pierced with another small
dart, as sharp and burning as the first,
the bull roars and becomes mad with
rage, and with eyes flashing fire he tears
round the arena, paving the sandy fool
with his feet, and turning his head right
and left at each object presented to him.
The game grows fast and furious;
the music plays some. stirring
gallon; the "picadores" cross and recross~
the arena, as if possessing charmed lives,
planting their darts in all parts Of the !
Infatuated animal; the spectators clap
their hands in excitement, some of the
ladies even tearing off their black man.
tillas to wave them in the air, until, upon
q given signal, the music ceases; the
voice Of the audience sinks into silence;
the "picadoresn retire behind wooden
screens placed for their protection at the
ends Of the arena; and the bull, decked
IN gay ribbons Of many colors, is left
alone on the battlefield, triumphant.
But his triumph is imaginary; for the
cessation Of the attack signifies nothing
more than reprieye of his sentence.
The clear notes of the trumpet sounds
again, heralding in the "matador, who
is the hero of the day His dress is
somewhat richer in quaiityga than
that Of his companions. He is
armed with short dagger
shaped sw I'd, which is generally carried
in his right hand, hidden under small
shawl, brilliant red in color, thrown over
his left arm. A cheer bursts from the
audience, and the ''matador'' advances
boldly to face the bull. The agility and
quickness shown by these 'tmatadorsn in
evading the charges Of the bull, whose
strength Is only partly spent BY previous
exertion, are marvellous to behold. The
importance Of the red shawl is soon
shown ii the way in which II IS extended